Bound in Blood...Caleia Larkstrong has spent her entire life training to be a temple healer; a devotee to the goddess who protects all of Aldenna from falling to the demonic threat in the west. When she is sent onward to pursue the next step of her education at Fengood Monastery, she runs into a trouble she never expected.
Seth, an unwilling demon, gave up long ago—somewhere between losing his humanity and the death of the one person who could ever bring it back. Now he wanders the wilderness of Aldenna, running from the cursed hunger that rules his waking days.
After an ill-fated encounter in the sleepy wood surrounding Fengood Monastery, Caleia and Seth are bound in inextricably tied to one another through a mysterious demonic pact. To break the bond they must work together, but can they overcome their differences long enough to try? In a world of sacred magic, roaming demons, and lurking danger, searching for the answer to their problem may uncover even more secrets than they anticipated.
OATH OF THE UNWILLING is book one of the OATHS OF OMYLIA DUET
M. Renee Lage grew up in Arizona where she learned to escape the heat by reading books with magic, adventure, and mythical creatures. Now, she enjoys creating myths of her own inspired by the places she’s been and flavored by her Jewish heritage. She lives with her wife, daughter, and five cats, all of whom compete daily for prime seating on their beloved blue sofa.
A dark, immersive fantasy with incredibly rich world-building and emotionally complex characters.
Caleia has spent her entire life following a clear, sacred path, so watching that future unravel so violently hit close to home for me. Her grief, frustration, and sense of betrayal felt incredibly real, especially the way she has to sit with the knowledge that her plans for the future are simply… gone. I loved her arc because it doesn’t rush her acceptance. She’s allowed to be angry, lost, and unsure of who she is without the role she was raised for, and that emotional honesty grounded the entire story.
Seth is broken, haunted, and carrying so much emotional baggage and guilt. He’s exactly the kind of morally wrecked vampire character I can’t resist. His guilt isn’t performative or neatly packaged; it’s messy, ongoing, and uncomfortable. The book never excuses his past, but it also doesn’t flatten him into a one-dimensional monster. The slow unveiling of his history, paired with his ghostly companion acting as both conscience and reminder of who he once was, was one of my favorite elements. Seth feels painfully human in a way that really worked for me.
The bond between Seth and Caleia is accidental, inconvenient, and refreshingly platonic and I loved that the story commits to that. Their relationship grows out of necessity, trust, and reluctant understanding rather than attraction, and it gives the emotional beats room to breathe. Watching them move from suspicion to grudging cooperation to genuine care was incredibly satisfying. Not everything is resolved neatly by the end, either, which I appreciated; growth happens, but flaws and consequences remain. I'm open to romance in the future, but will be happy either way.
I was also surprised by how much I enjoyed the religious framework of this world. Religion plays a major role in shaping identity, power, and guilt here, and even as someone who doesn’t gravitate toward religious themes (unless they deal with religious trauma), I found the exploration thoughtful rather than preachy. It helped that it was combined with themes of remorse, lost purpose, and the long road toward accountability.
If I had to sum this up, I’d say this is a dark fantasy that trusts its readers to sit with discomfort, to accept unresolved wounds, and to care about characters who are trying, imperfectly, to be better. The world is fascinating, the characters feel genuine, and I’m very much on board to see where this duet goes next.
Add to your TBR if you love: 🩸 Dark fantasy with emotional depth 🩸 Broken, remorseful vampires 🩸 Accidental bonds that stay platonic 🩸 Religion, identity, and lost purpose 🩸 Characters who aren’t “fixed,” just trying
Thanks so much to the author and Booked With the Emilys for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Short Synopsis: Caleia is a devoted temple healer who’s dedicated her life to her goddess. When she travels alone to continue her studies, she crosses paths with Seth…a demon (basically a vampire in all the best ways). After an accidental magical bond ties them together, they’re forced into an uneasy partnership as they search for a way to break it.
My Thoughts: I will forever lose my damn mind over vampire books, and Seth is peak vamp perfection. He’s growly, protective, and absolutely willing to end anyone who threatens Caleia. I adored their enemies-to-grudging-allies dynamic.
And that ending! I’m already impatient for the next part of Seth and Caleia’s story.
What You’ll Find: 🩸 Vampire + Healer ⚔️ “Touch her and die” 🔗 Magic bond 🔥 Slow burn 😈 Enemies-to-more
Thanks to @bookedwiththeemilys and @mrlwrites for the #gifted copy of this book
“You are not the sum of your parts, nor are you the sum of your history. A product of it, maybe, but by no means the end result."
My Thoughts: I went into Oath of the Unwilling blind, and I'm so grateful I did. Though it started a little slow, I made it halfway and had such a hard time putting this one down, trying to see the paths Seth and Caleia were walking. This is a perfect starter fantasy story for those just dipping their toe into this genre.
Seth is a demon with all the perfect vampire-esque traits—something that’s quickly becoming a favorite of mine in my fantasy reads. Though a monster, as seen by the people in this world and sometimes himself, Seth wore his heart on his sleeve and cared too deeply at times. This, of course, made me love his character even more.
I love Seth and Caleia's dynamic together, starting as complete enemies and slowly becoming allies, maybe even friends. Caleia had big dreams that she set off to complete, but they were shattered the moment Seth came into her life. I love the grit and determination she pours into everything she sets out to do.
The ending definitely has me waiting on the edge of my seat to see where Caliea and Seth go from here.
What You'll Find: 🗡️🔥Medieval setting ⚡✨Soft magic system 🔗✨MCs magically bound together 🔥🩸Demons/vampires 🤫⚔️Secret war 🖤😤"Touch her and die (platonically)." 📜Prophetic visions ⚔️ ➡️ 🤝Enemies to friends 👣 Your Destiny Chooses You
Oath of the Unwilling does many things well. There’s good world building and interesting lore. Both main characters are interesting. Caleia has to reevaluate her idealistic views when she becomes bonded while Seth has to come to terms with his tragic backstory. My favorite character, though, was Betta. She was such an unexpected joy, and I adored her lessons. My main struggle was the pacing. For me, this was extremely slow to start and didn’t really capture my interest until around 50% through. With being the first in a series, there’s a lot of setting up, but I wish it was more balanced. Overall, though, it’s worth pushing through to get to the second half of the story. ✨ ✨ eARC courtesy of booked with the Emily’s
As someone who just dipped their toes into the world of vampire stories this year, this book was so exciting to read! Oath of the Unwilling was the perfect mix of dark fantasy, a new take on vampires, and a story that brings together some amazing characters! If you’re a lover of dark fantasy and a series that is just starting out, this one is for you!!!
I loved this book. I ripped through it in 3 days and couldn’t put it down. I cannot wait for the next one. I really enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters and was glad it wasn’t romantic. I appreciated that not everything was fixed at the end and that despite all their growth they are still flawed and have to strive to be better. I wish we got to see more of Caleia exploring her magic but I’m sure we’ll see more of that in the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thank you to Booked with the Emilys and the author for a digital review copy of this book.
After an ill-fated encounter in the sleepy wood surrounding Fengood Monastery, Caleia and Seth are bound in blood: inextricably tied to one another through a mysterious demonic pact. To break the bond they must work together, but can they overcome their differences long enough to try? In a world of sacred magic, roaming demons, and lurking danger, searching for the answer to their problem may uncover even more secrets than they anticipated.
I thoroughly enjoyed this medieval vampire novel, with its clashing mortals and demons, complex religious landscape, and a teenage FMC who both actually acts like it and matures over the course of the novel. The world and magic systems are deep, and the plot took so many turns I did not expect. I appreciated the close character studies of Caleia and Seth, who went from enemies to allies (rather than lovers - the break from romantasy tropes was refreshing!). Very much looking forward to book two.
Oath of the Unwilling takes some big swings for a new author.
Unique and thorough world building Complex characters (it’s ok — nay, encouraged!— to dislike your MCs sometimes) Unexpected twists and turns.
And these swings work!
Like many fantasy books, the beginning can feel slow. You’re learning a lot. And you’re learning through showing, not telling. But once our adventure begins, it’s time to get going.
I went through so many emotions and expectations with this book. Watching Seth and Calea grow and shift mindsets was almost as fun as figuring out where are adventure would go.
This story follows Caleia, a healer in training, whose entire moral compass is rooted in her devotion to Omylia. She’s intelligent, skilled with herbs, capable in a fight, and deeply kind—but also sheltered. Watching her worldview crack and then slowly expand once she’s forced into the “real world” was quite gratifying. Her faith doesn’t disappear; it evolves. And that evolution—especially in how she comes to see the Damara and injustice beyond the temple walls—felt earned and powerful.
And then there’s Seth. Morally gray, guilt-ridden, and painfully human despite being Damara. I didn’t just like him—I ached for him. His internal dialogue is soaked in self-loathing and sorrow, and while the narrative tells us he’s selfish at times, I couldn’t hate him for it. He feels trapped in an existence he never wanted, carrying the weight of choices made in desperation rather than cruelty. His grief over Serena and the way Caleia unknowingly mirrors her kindness shattered me. Seth is the kind of character who believes he’s beyond redemption—and that makes every small act of goodness hit harder. [honestly, I love him. His character gave me the most]
Their bond—forced, intimate, emotional—was everything to me. Feeling each other’s fear, comfort, guilt, and care created such a deep connection that made their reluctant friendship more beautiful. That one conversation where Seth insists he can’t be better and Caleia counters with grace? I reread it multiple times. It digs straight into the heart of what this book is really about: whether people who’ve done terrible things are still worthy of mercy.
The worldbuilding unfolds gradually but effectively—rumors of Damara gatherings, corrupt power structures in Ivinea, secret temples beneath taverns, and immortals who blur the line between protector and tyrant. Ralyr is a chilling presence, not because he’s unspeakably monstrous, but because of how normalized his control is. Side characters like Eliabet, Betta, & Tal added emotional grounding, especially when the story leaned dark.
The final act was brutal, tragic, and inevitable. The bond breaking DEVASTATED me—even though I understand why it had to happen. I loved the comfort (& all the other emotions) they could give each other through it, and I’m deeply curious (and nervous) to see how their relationship evolves without that tether in the next book.
This is a story about faith, guilt, choice, and grace. About monsters who want to be better—and people brave enough to believe they can be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thank you to @mrlwrites and @bookedwiththeemilys for the #gifted e-book.
This intriguing story marks the beginning of the Oaths of Omylia duet, and it left me eager for the next installment.
Caleia, a fierce healer devoted to the goddess who safeguards her world from demons. Seth, an unwilling demon grapples with his insatiable hunger and a haunting past. When fate intertwines their lives through a demonic pact, they must join together to break free from the binding curse.
Caleia shines as a strong and dynamic character, and her growth throughout the story was inspiring. Seth’s backstory unfolds with poignant revelations that deepen the reader's connection to him. Watching the two of them join forces against the formidable Lord and his son was thrilling, filled with unexpected twists.
The world-building, while initially slowing the pace, enriched the story and heightened the tension as the plot unfolded. The magical systems introduced were intriguing, adding another layer of depth to this enthralling saga. The cliffhanger ending will leave you breathless and desperate for the next book!
This gem is available now on Kindle Unlimited, so dive in and join Caleia and Seth on their unforgettable journey!
We start the book with Cal, who is so certain of her future, like so much of us pretend to be at her age, until the run in with "the demara" changes all of that.
I loved the overall horror running in the undercurrent of the book, from both Cal and Seth's point of view, without it becoming a heavy dark thing. There is no romance here, so if you like monsters being monsters this is the book for you! There is a lot of speculation about the purpose of religion, the idea of serving ungrateful goddesses, and finding your place in a world that isn't what you thought it was. Also, there might be a war, there might be more to what demara truly are, and their meeting might have put them right in the middle of it all.
As a warning, this book deals with some heavy themes, like losing your purpose, grappling with weighty sins, and trying to come to terms with the person who steals your life's plans from you.
This story has an interesting magic system. Clearly there is magic involved but it is also minimal in only few can use it. There is also so much that you as the reader and the MCs have to learn about the magic in play. The big one is the bonds between the Demara and humans.
A large theme in this book is learning that what you may have learned about something isn't always the full truth. Caleia has been raised within the temple and has learned about the Demons. She doesn't trust them, and most are what she knows. However, Seth is different. He is almost gentle when it comes to humans. He has done a lot in the past that he isn't proud of and it has painted his view of who he is.
Both Seth and Caleia have much to learn about themselves and the world around them. This book ends with a cliff hanger for book two.
Thanks to bookedwiththeemilys and the author for the gifted copy of this book.
I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the next book in the series. I found both of the main characters to be interesting and enjoyed learning the backstory of the MMC throughout the book. The magical system, setting, and use of Vampires was unique and the story felt fresh. Like many fantasy books, the beginning may feel slower paced as you learn the world you are in, but I felt it picked up quickly and leaves you with a cliffhanger at the end.
If you like these tropes in your fantasy books, you may enjoy the start to this new series: 🏰 Medieval setting ✨Secret war 🧛 Demons/vampires ✨”Touch her and die (platonically)” 🪄MCs magically bound together ✨Healer FMC 👻Haunted MMC ✨Enemies to friends 👁️Prophetic visions
overall I really enjoyed this book! Caleia is a superb FMC. She is strong in her convictions, selfless, fierce and oh so strong. I love the scene with her sparring as you are reminder that she is not just a healer but also a badass. Seth is definitely that morally grey character that you actually love despite him maybe being "the bad guy". I won't say more so you can form your own opinions. I would say I definitely got Twilight vibes from the book, but I love twilight so for me it was a good thing. The writing flowed easily, and I was fully absorbed in the characters and the world. I didn't realize it is part of a duology so I started panicking that things weren't going to feel resolved, but I am sure book 2 will help solve that! Such a great read!
The story with these two is pure magic. I loved that we got to experience their relationship right from the start, even if it didn't begin on the right foot. Caleia's passion to heal others while continuing her drive for the connection to Omylia mixed with Seth's protectiveness set this book up for success!